Proud to be Dim by Will Durst Remember back in grade school, when all learning came to a screeching halt while the teacher stopped to explain what was going on to the slow kids? She’d spend the entire morning trying to simplify the lesson plan so they could get it. Using small words in her annoying patient voice, which tended to pitch strident the slower she talked. Well, … [Read more...] about Proud to be Dim (Guest Voice)
I Want My Country Back
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to run on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about I Want My Country Back
“Yes We Can,” “Maybe We Shouldn’t”
Is Barack Obama trying to hide some innate shyness? After being on 60 Minutes almost as often as Andy Rooney and rivaling Oprah on weekday TV, the President will go for overexposure records with five Sunday talk shows tomorrow to be followed by Letterman Monday night. The All Obama All the Time blitz is meant to explain and sell health care reform to confused Americans, but … [Read more...] about “Yes We Can,” “Maybe We Shouldn’t”
The Cost of Not Reforming Health Care Access
Reuters reported on this study done by researchers at Harvard Medical School: … [Read more...] about The Cost of Not Reforming Health Care Access
Nissan “beautiful and futuristic” Noise: Cars To Sound Like Blade Runner Spinners
Electric cars are quiet. That's a potential problem for pedestrians and cyclists. The LATimes: Nissan sound engineers have announced that the Leaf electric car set for release next year will emit a “beautiful and futuristic” noise similar to the sound of flying cars -- or “spinners” -- that buzz around 2019 Los Angeles in Ridley Scott’s dystopian thriller based on a Philip K. … [Read more...] about Nissan “beautiful and futuristic” Noise: Cars To Sound Like Blade Runner Spinners
The futility of American deaths in Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, the US is heading towards futility if not defeat mainly because no policy maker in Washington or its allied European capitals is willing to notice the bull in the china shop obvious to others. Washington and its NATO allies are focused on the awful recent elections. They are running in circles trying to establish democracy and rule of law in country where the … [Read more...] about The futility of American deaths in Afghanistan
ACORN’s Fed Funding Loss A Drop In The Bucket?
Frankly, my dear, I didn't give a damn about ACORN's community organizing for the impoverished until I saw the videos on You Tube obtained by a self-described nerd who is more of an icon-shattering crusader than staunch conservative as some would have us believe. That caught me attention. In case you missed it the edited snippets show low-level ACORN representatives telling … [Read more...] about ACORN’s Fed Funding Loss A Drop In The Bucket?
The Changing Face of Conservatism
Andrew Sullivan ponders: from Irving Kristol to Glenn Beck? … [Read more...] about The Changing Face of Conservatism
CIA Directors Want Torture Investigation Shelved
It's not news that the CIA does not want the torture investigation to go forward. It's who they are lobbying to achieve that end that is truly egregious: … [Read more...] about CIA Directors Want Torture Investigation Shelved
Let’s Make a Deal: Beltway Edition (Guest Voice)
Let's Make a Deal: Beltway Edition by Michael Winship If you ever needed proof that Washington is governed by the Golden Rule - the one that says, he who has the gold, rules - you only have to look at the wagonloads of cash being dumped by big business into crushing President Obama's domestic agenda. Good gosh, how the money rolls in. And I'm not only talking about the … [Read more...] about Let’s Make a Deal: Beltway Edition (Guest Voice)
Beck Pest
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune This cartoon is copyrighted and licensed to appear on TMV. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited. … [Read more...] about Beck Pest
Micheal Pollan Predicts Big Food Will Be Brought To Account By Big Insurance
If you, like me, missed Micheal Pollan's OpEd in the NYTimes last week, it's worth a read: No one disputes that the $2.3 trillion we devote to the health care industry is often spent unwisely, but the fact that the United States spends twice as much per person as most European countries on health care can be substantially explained, as a study released last month says, by our … [Read more...] about Micheal Pollan Predicts Big Food Will Be Brought To Account By Big Insurance
Health Care Debate Makes Life Hard for Black ‘Blue Dogs’ in Georgia
Georgia congressmen Sanford Bishop and David Scott are both ‘Blue Dog’ Democrats. And both are being put to the test by the raging health care debate. McClatchy Newspapers: While both men say they're comfortable balancing the fiscal conservatism and strong support for the military that the Blue Dog Coalition advocates with the black caucus's socially progressive platform — … [Read more...] about Health Care Debate Makes Life Hard for Black ‘Blue Dogs’ in Georgia
The Netherlands: Land of Windmills, Tulips…and Camels?
I lived in the Netherlands for many years and I fondly remember its windmills, its gorgeous fields of tulips, and of course its delicious cheese---made from that great Dutch koe melk (cow milk). I don't remember, however, seeing any camels grazing in the luscious Dutch pastures. That's why the headline in this morning's news.scotsman.com got my attention. … [Read more...] about The Netherlands: Land of Windmills, Tulips…and Camels?
Stream of Consciousness Saturday (Guest Voice)
Stream of Consciousness Saturday by Rick Moran A lot of things have happened this week that have entered the airy cavity sitting atop my neck and floated around waiting to be recognized as conscious thought. I can imagine all these little snippets of inner dialogue waiting patiently in line, bitching about how slow a goose I am at moving them from the dark of my … [Read more...] about Stream of Consciousness Saturday (Guest Voice)
The Executioner’s Tale
On Tuesday evening this week, in Ohio, Rommel Broom was led to the lethal injection chamber for the 1984 abduction, rape, torture and murder of a 14 year old girl. Two hours later, Broom walked out under his own power after technicians were unable to insert an I.V. properly into a vein. This is stirring up another controversy over whether or not the state can attempt to put … [Read more...] about The Executioner’s Tale
CNN’s Sanchez, ABC’s Trapper and CBS to FOX News: You Lie
Anyone who has worked in the media knows about a "fatal" in a story: it's an error so big that if it isn't corrected fast and prominently, it can discredit the info-outlet that carries it. This is the kind of error newspapers correct on the front page (versus some of the bigger ones buried inside). Fox News -- the network that says it provides fair and accurate reporting -- is … [Read more...] about CNN’s Sanchez, ABC’s Trapper and CBS to FOX News: You Lie
Any Man’s Death Diminishes Me
I want to say something about Irving Kristol's passing at the age of 89. The neoconservative movement, which Kristol founded and which, at least for now, is being led by his son, William Kristol, has had, in my view, a very pernicious effect on U.S. foreign and domestic policy. I did not admire Irving Kristol, and I cannot feel grief or sadness at his death. But neither can I … [Read more...] about Any Man’s Death Diminishes Me
Does global warming have an upside?
I guess if you're James Bond it does: Melting Ice Caps Expose Hundreds Of Secret Arctic Lairs --- Cross-posted between Random Fate and The Moderate Voice. --- Technorati : humor Del.icio.us : humor Zooomr : humor Flickr : humor … [Read more...] about Does global warming have an upside?
The Medal of Honor: Too Few and Too Late?
I have always been in awe of the incredible acts of valor and selfless sacrifice our military are capable of. More recently, I have been puzzled---and have questioned---why there have been so few Medals of Honor awarded to our heroes who have continued to “distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call … [Read more...] about The Medal of Honor: Too Few and Too Late?